Component assembly for refrigerating cycle and refrigerating cycle having the same

ABSTRACT

At least two components for a refrigerating cycle are integrated into a component assembly before being fixed to an object. For example, a decompressing device and a gas-liquid separator are integrated into a component assembly, and then the component assembly is fixed to an object. Alternatively, the decompressing device and an internal heat exchanger are integrated into a component assembly, and then the component assembly is fixed to an object. As another example, the decompressing device, the gas-liquid separator and the internal heat exchanger are integrated into a component assembly, and then fixed to an object.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-133075filed on May 11, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an assembly of components for arefrigerating cycle and a refrigerating cycle having the assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A refrigerating cycle for a vehicle air conditioner generally includes acompressor 10-, a radiator (e.g., condenser, gas cooler) 100, adecompressing device 300, an evaporator 400, a gas-liquid separator 500and an internal heat exchanger 200, as shown in FIG. 8. The precedingcomponents are for example connected through refrigerant pipes P1 to P6and refrigerant hoses H1, H2, as shown in FIG. 9.

The compressor 10 is disposed to receive a driving force from a vehicleengine. The radiator 100 is disposed in front of a radiator 600, whichis mounted at a front part of an engine compartment EC of the vehicle,to receive air while the vehicle is running. The evaporator 400 isdisposed in an air conditioning unit (not shown) that is mounted in apassenger compartment PC of the vehicle. Also, the decompressing device300, the gas-liquid separator 500 and the internal heat exchanger 200are disposed at predetermined positions in the engine compartment EC.

The internal heat exchanger 200 has a high pressure refrigerant passageand a low pressure refrigerant passage for performing heat exchangebetween a high pressure refrigerant and a low pressure refrigerantflowing therethrough. Thus, plural refrigerant pipes are coupled to theinternal heat exchanger 200 to make communication with the high pressurerefrigerant passage and the low pressure refrigerant passage. Also, thedecompressing device 300 has two refrigerant passages therein forcontrolling pressure of the high pressure refrigerant based on thetemperature of the refrigerant downstream of the radiator. Thus, pluralrefrigerant pipe are coupled to the decompressing device 300 to makecommunication with the two refrigerant passages. Accordingly,arrangement of the refrigerant pipes are complicated, and coupling workof the refrigerant pipes increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is made in view of the foregoing matter, and it isan object of the present invention to provide a component assembly for arefrigerating cycle, capable of simplifying connection of pipes. It isanother object of the present invention to provide a refrigerating cyclehaving the component assembly.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a component assemblyfor a refrigerating cycle has a decompressing device for decompressing ahigh pressure refrigerant and a gas-liquid separator for separating alow pressure refrigerant, which has been decompressed by thedecompressing device, into a gas-phase refrigerant and a liquid-phaserefrigerant. The decompressing device and the gas-liquid separator areintegrated.

The gas-liquid separator is a relatively large component of componentsfor the refrigerating cycle. The decompressing device and the gas-liquidseparator are integrated into the assembly before being fixed to anobject such as a vehicle body or an air conditioner chassis. Thus, thedecompressing device is mounted to the object by fixing the gas-liquidseparator to the object. Further, the decompressing device and thegas-liquid separator are constructed compact. Moreover, since thedecompressing device is integrated with the gas-liquid separator beforebeing fixed to the object, it is easily fixed. Furthermore, since thedecompressing device and the gas-liquid separator are integrated into asingle unit, these can be handled easily during transportation andassembling.

Further, the decompressing device and the gas-liquid separator areintegrated into the assembly in various ways or means. For example, thedecompressing device and the gas-liquid separator are integrallyprovided by sharing housings thereof. As another example, thedecompressing device and the gas-liquid separator may be connected toeach other such as by welding or by using fixing means such as clampsand screws.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a componentassembly for a refrigerating cycle has a decompressing device fordecompressing a high pressure refrigerant and an internal heat exchangerfor performing heat exchange between the high pressure refrigerant and alow pressure refrigerant, which has been decompressed by thedecompressing device. The decompressing device and the internal heatexchanger are integrated.

In components of the refrigerating cycle, the decompressing device andthe internal heat exchanger have relatively large numbers of couplingportions. The decompressing device and the internal heat exchanger areintegrated into a unit, and then one of the decompressing device and theinternal heat exchanger is fixed to an object so that the other one ofthe decompressing device and the internal heat exchanger is fixed.

In this case, because pipes for connecting the decompressing device andthe internal heat exchanger are reduced, the structure of therefrigerating cycle is simplified. Further, the components of therefrigerating cycle are easily connected. Also, the decompressing deviceand the internal heat exchanger are constructed compact. Since thedecompressing device and the internal heat exchanger are integrated intoa single unit, these can be handled easily during transportation andassembling.

Further, the decompressing device and the internal heat exchanger areintegrated into the assembly by various ways or means. For example, thedecompressing device and the internal heat exchanger are integrallyprovided by sharing a portion such as a housing thereof. As anotherexample, the decompressing device and the internal heat exchanger areconnected to each other such as by welding or by using fixing means suchas clamps and screws.

In the refrigerating cycle having the above assembly, assemblingworkability improves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description made withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which like parts aredesignated by like reference numbers and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerating cycle for a vehiclehaving an assembly of components according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembly of components according tothe first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a heat exchanging part of aninternal heat exchanger of the refrigerating cycle, partly including across-sectional view, according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerating cycle for a vehiclehaving an assembly of components according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the assembly of components according tothe second embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerating cycle for a vehiclehaving an assembly of components according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the assembly of components according tothe third embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a refrigerating cycle mounted on a vehicleas a related art; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerating cycle shown in FIG.8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerating cycle is for example employed as asupercritical vapor compression refrigerating cycle for a vehicle airconditioner. As a refrigerant, carbon dioxide is for example used.Alternatively, ethylene, ethane, nitrogen oxide or the like can be usedas the refrigerant. In this embodiment, refrigerant discharged from acompressor has pressure equal to or greater than a critical pressure tothereby provide predetermined cooling (refrigerating) capacity.

The refrigerating cycle generally includes a compressor 10, a gas cooler100 as a high pressure-side heat exchanger, an expansion valve 300 as adecompressing device, an internal heat exchanger 200, an evaporator 400as a low pressure-side heat exchanger, and an accumulator 500 as agas-liquid separator. In the refrigerating cycle, particularly, theexpansion valve 300 and the accumulator 500 are integrated into acomponent assembly A1. Hereafter, the above components 10, 100, 200,300, 400, 500 will be described in line with a flow of the refrigerant.

The compressor 10 is driven by an engine of a vehicle. The compressor 10sucks and compresses the refrigerant. Here, a general compressor isemployed as the compressor 10, and structure of the compressor 10 is notlimited to a particular type. Thus, the structure of the compressor 10is not described in detail. Also, the compressor 10 may be an electriccompressor.

The compressor 10 is connected to the gas cooler 100 through a firstrefrigerant hose H1 having flexibility so that high pressure refrigerantcompressed in the compressor 10 is introduced to the gas cooler 100. Thegas cooler 100 is arranged so that air passes through the gas cooler 100while the vehicle is running or air created by a cooling fan (not shown)passes through the gas cooler 100. The gas cooler 100 performs heatexchange between the high pressure refrigerant discharged from thecompressor 10 and the air, thereby to cool the high pressurerefrigerant. Here, the structure of the gas cooler 100 is not limited toa particular type, and the gas cooler 100 is constructed of a generalgas cooler. Thus, the structure of the gas cooler 100 is not describedin detail.

The gas cooler 100 is connected to a first inlet port 301 of theexpansion valve 300 through a first refrigerant pipe P1. Thus, therefrigerant discharged from the gas cooler 100 is introduced to thefirst inlet port 301 of the expansion valve 300. The first refrigerantpipe P1 is made of metal. Here, the expansion valve 300 is constructedas a part of the assembly A1. The expansion valve 300 is a well-knownbox type expansion valve and has a first refrigerant passage and asecond refrigerant passage therein. Also, the expansion valve 300 has atemperature sensing part (not shown) in the first refrigerant passage.

In the expansion valve 300, the high pressure refrigerant flows throughthe first refrigerant passage, which is in communication with thetemperature sensing part, from the first inlet port 301 to a firstoutlet port 302. The first outlet port 302 is connected to a highpressure refrigerant inlet 202 of the internal heat exchanger 200through a metallic second refrigerant pipe P2.

The internal heat exchanger 200 performs heat exchange between the highpressure refrigerant discharged from the gas cooler 100 and a lowpressure refrigerant, which has a pressure lower than the pressure ofthe high pressure refrigerant and to be sucked into the compressor 10.The internal heat exchanger 200 has a heat exchanging part 201 shown inFIG. 3. The heat exchanging part 201 has a high pressure refrigerantpassage 200 a and low pressure refrigerant passages 200 b.

For example, the high pressure refrigerant passage 200 a extends alongan axis of the heat exchanging part 201, and the low pressurerefrigerant passages 200 b are disposed to extend on a radial outer sideof the high pressure refrigerant passage 200 a. In other words, the highpressure refrigerant passage 200 a and the low pressure refrigerantpassages 200 b are coaxially disposed, and hence the heat exchangingpart 201 has a substantially double-passage (double-pipe) structure.

The internal heat exchanger 200 has the high pressure refrigerant inlet202 and a high pressure refrigerant outlet 203 at ends of the heatexchanging part 201. The heat exchanging part 201 is bent into aU-shape. Thus, the high pressure refrigerant inlet 202 and the highpressure refrigerant outlet 203 are arranged adjacent to each other onone end of the internal heat exchanger 200. In this embodiment, theinternal heat exchanger 200 is provided as an individual component andis fixed to an appropriate position in the engine compartment EC with afixing member such as a clamp and a bracket (not shown). The structureof the internal heat exchanger 200 is not limited to the above discussedand illustrated type. The internal heat exchanger 200 may have anothershape and structure.

The high pressure refrigerant outlet 203 of the internal heat exchanger200 is connected to a second inlet port 303 of the expansion valve 300through a metallic third refrigerant pipe P3. In the expansion valve300, the second inlet port 303 is in communication with the secondrefrigerant passage in which a valve part (not shown) is provided. Thus,the high pressure refrigerant, which has passed through the highpressure refrigerant passage 200 a of the internal heat exchanger 200,is introduced into the second refrigerant passage of the expansion valve300 from the second inlet port 303.

The expansion valve 300 is configured to enthalpically decompress andexpand the high pressure refrigerant. Also, the expansion valve 300controls the pressure of the high pressure refrigerant based on thetemperature of the refrigerant discharged from the gas cooler 100.

The expansion valve 300 has a second outlet port 304 at a downstreamend-of the second refrigerant passage. The second outlet port 304 isconnected to the evaporator 400 through a metallic fourth refrigerantpipe P4. Thus, the refrigerant, which has been decompressed by the valvepart in the second refrigerant passage, is discharged from the secondoutlet port 304 and introduced into the evaporator 400 through thefourth refrigerant pipe P4.

The evaporator 400 performs heat exchange between the low pressurerefrigerant, which has been decompressed in the expansion valve 300, andair to be introduced into a passenger compartment PC of the vehicle.Namely, the evaporator 400 cools the air by evaporating the low pressurerefrigerant. The evaporator 400 is housed in an air conditioning unitmounted in the passenger compartment PC. Here, the evaporator 400 isconstructed of a well-known type heat exchanger, and structure of whichis not limited to a particular type. Thus, the structure of theevaporator 400 is not described in detail.

Further, a discharge port of the evaporator 400 is connected to arefrigerant inlet 501 of the accumulator 500 through a metallic fifthrefrigerant pipe P5. Thus, the low pressure refrigerant, which has beenevaporated in the evaporator 400, is introduced into the refrigerantinlet 501 of the accumulator 500. The accumulator 500 separates the lowpressure refrigerant into a gas-phase refrigerant and a liquid-phaserefrigerant therein, and accumulates surplus refrigerant therein as theliquid-phase refrigerant. Also, the accumulator 500 supplies thegas-phase refrigerant and refrigerating oil, which has been separatedand extracted, toward a suction side of the compressor 10.

Here, the accumulator 500 is constructed of a well-known typeaccumulator and may have any structure. Thus, the structure of theaccumulator 500 is not described in detail. The accumulator 500 has arefrigerant outlet 502 that is connected to a low pressure refrigerantinlet 204 of the internal heat exchanger 200 through a metallic sixthrefrigerant pipe P6. Thus, the gas-phase refrigerant and refrigeratingoil are introduced into the low pressure refrigerant passages 200 b ofthe internal heat exchanger 200 through the sixth refrigerant pipe P6.

The accumulator 500 is integrated with the expansion valve 300 as intothe assembly A1 before mounted to the vehicle. For example, theaccumulator 500 and the expansion valve 300 are integrated by usingfixing means such as screws and the like, as shown in FIG. 2.

In this embodiment, the accumulator 500 has a rigid block on its upperportion. The rigid block is formed with the refrigerant inlet 501 andthe refrigerant outlet 502 to which the fifth refrigerant pipe P5 andthe sixth refrigerant pipe P6 are coupled, respectively. For example,the refrigerant inlet 501 and the refrigerant outlet 502 are open in adirection substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of theaccumulator 500. The expansion valve 300 is fixed to the rigid block. Assuch, the refrigerant inlet 501, the refrigerant outlet 502, pipecoupling portions for the refrigerant pipes P5, P6, and the expansionvalve 300 are arranged on or adjacent to the upper portion of theaccumulator 500 in a concentrated manner.

Further, the expansion valve 300 is disposed such that the first andsecond refrigerant passages are arranged next to each other in ahorizontal direction. This arrangement contributes to reduce the heightof the assembly A1.

The inlet and outlet ports 301, 302, 303, 304 of the expansion valve 300are formed such that the ends of the refrigerant pipes P1, P2, P3, P4are coupled in the same direction as the coupling direction of the endsof the refrigerant pipes P5, P6. For example, coupling portions of thefirst inlet port 301 and the second outlet port 304 are formed on afirst side of the expansion valve 300 and are open in the samedirection. Also, the first inlet port 301 and the second outlet port 304are open in the same direction as the refrigerant inlet 501 formed onthe rigid block of the accumulator 500.

Likewise, coupling portions of the first outlet port 302 and the secondinlet port 303 are formed on a second side of the expansion valve 300and are open in the same direction, the second side being opposite tothe first side. Also, the first outlet port 302 and the second inletport 303 are open in the same direction as the refrigerant outlet 502formed on the rigid block of the accumulator 500. Namely, the couplingportions for the pipes P1, P2, P3, P4 are separately formed on the firstand second sides of the expansion valve 300.

Further, the first side of the expansion valve 300 is formed with boltholes 301 a, 304 a for receiving bolts for fixing the pipes P1, P4. Thebolts holes 301 a, 304 a are open in the same direction as a bolt hole501 a formed on the rigid block for receiving a bolt for fixing the pipeP5. Thus, the refrigerant pipes P1, P4, P5 are coupled in the samedirection.

Likewise, the second side of the expansion valve 300 is formed with boltholes for receiving bolts for fixing the pipes P2, P3. The bolt holes ofthe second side may be open in the same direction as a bolt hole formedon the rigid block for receiving a bolt for fixing the pipe P6. Thus,the refrigerant pipes P2, P3, P6 are coupled in the same direction.

Also, the bolt holes 301 a, 304 a are formed on an upper portion of theexpansion valve 300. In other words, the bolt holes 301 a, 304 a areformed on the opposite side of the bolt hole 501 a of the rigid blockwith respect to the first inlet port 301 and the second outlet port 304.Thus, the refrigerant pipes P1, P4 are effectively coupled withoutinterfering with the accumulator 500. Likewise, the bolt holes forfixing of the refrigerant pipes P2, P3 are formed on the upper portionof the second side of the expansion valve 300. Thus, the refrigerantpipes P2, P3 are effectively coupled without interfering with theaccumulator 500.

Accordingly, the coupling portions for the pipes P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6associated with the assembly Al are arranged at or adjacent to the upperportion of the accumulator 500 in a concentrated manner. Thus, the pipesP1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6 are easily coupled and fixed.

The associated components are integrated with the accumulator 500 intothe assembly A1 before mounted to the vehicle. The assembly A1 isintegrally mounted to and fixed to a vehicle body by a bracket BKT as asupport member. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the bracket BKT has asupport portion for holding the assembly A1. The support portioncontacts the accumulator 500 and only holds the accumulator 500. Namely,the support portion has a support wall that surrounds and contacts anouter surface of a columnar body (tank body) of the accumulator 500 andfastening walls at ends of the support wall to be fastened by fixingparts such as screws. Thus, the assembly Al is detachably held by thesupport portion of the bracket BKT.

The bracket BKT holds the assembly A1 at a position slightly higher thana middle portion of the accumulator 500 in a vertical direction, forexample. The bracket BKT has a fixing wall to be fixed to the vehiclebody. The fixing wall generally extends along an axis of the columnarbody of the accumulator 500, and bolt holes are formed on the fixingwall at separate positions. Thus, the bracket BKT is fixed to thevehicle body by fastening bolts into the bolt holes.

The low pressure refrigerant discharged from the accumulator 500 isintroduced to the low pressure refrigerant inlet 204 of the internalheat exchanger 200 through the sixth refrigerant pipe P6. In theinternal heat exchanger 200, the low pressure refrigerant flows throughthe low pressure refrigerant passages 200b toward the low pressurerefrigerant outlet 205 while cooling the high pressure refrigerantflowing through the high pressure refrigerant passage 200 a. Then, thelow pressure refrigerant is discharged from the low pressure refrigerantoutlet 205 and sucked into the compressor 100 through a secondrefrigerant hose H2 having flexibility. In FIG. 1, double-dashed chainline 600 denotes a radiator. The gas cooler 100 is arranged in front ofthe radiator 600 in the engine compartment EC.

Next, effects of this embodiment will be described.

The accumulator 500 is a relatively large component of components of therefrigerating cycle. The associated components and parts such as theexpansion valve 300 are integrated with the accumulator 500, and thenthe accumulator 500 is fixed to the vehicle body. Thus, the associatedcomponents are mounted to the vehicle together with the accumulator 500by fixing the accumulator 500 to the vehicle body.

In the above discussion, the accumulator 500 and the expansion valve 300are exemplary integrated by using the rigid block, screws and the like.Further, the accumulator 500 and the expansion valve 300 can beintegrated by various ways or means. For example, the accumulator 500and the expansion valve 300 may be integrally provided by sharing a partof a housing of the accumulator 500 with a housing of the expansionvalve 300. Alternatively, the accumulator 500 and the expansion valve300 may be connected such as by welding or using fixing means such asclamps and screws.

Accordingly, the accumulator 500 and the expansion valve 300 areconstructed compact. Also, the expansion valve 300 is easily assembled.In addition, the accumulator 500 and the expansion valve 300 are handledas a single unit, and hence easily transported and handled inassembling. The expansion valve 300 is constructed of a box-typeexpansion valve having the temperature sensing part in the refrigerantpassage. Thus, the expansion valve 300 is easily integrated into theassembly A1.

The expansion valve 300 and the accumulator 500 are fixed to the vehiclebody through the same bracket BKT. Therefore, the number of the fixingmembers such as clamp, bracket and screws is reduced, and hence thenumber of fixing work for fixing the fixing members are reduced. As aresult, costs reduces. Moreover, spaces for the fixing members andworking spaces for fixing the fixing members reduce. Furthermore, theweight of the refrigerating cycle reduces.

In the refrigerating cycle having the component assembly A1, assemblingworkability improves. In this embodiment, the refrigerating cycle hasthe internal heat exchanger 200. However, the refrigerating cycle maynot have the internal heat exchanger 200.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.Hereafter, like parts are denoted by like reference numerals, and afeature of this embodiment, which is different from the firstembodiment, will be mainly described. As shown in FIG. 4, the internalheat exchanger 200 and the expansion valve 300 are integrated as into acomponent assembly A2 in the refrigerating cycle.

As shown in FIG. 5, the expansion valve 300 is integrated with theinternal heat exchanger 200 such that the first outlet port 302 isdirectly connected to the high pressure refrigerant inlet 202 and thesecond inlet port 303 is directly connected to the high pressurerefrigerant outlet 203 without using the second and third pipes P2, P3.The expansion valve 300 and the internal heat exchanger 200 areintegrated into the assembly A2 beforehand, and then the assembly A2 ismounted to and fixed to the vehicle body using the bracket BKT. In thisembodiment, the accumulator 500 is provided as an individual componentand mounted to a predetermined portion in the engine compartment.

As shown in FIG. 4, the high pressure refrigerant discharged from thegas cooler 100 is introduced into the first inlet port 301 of theexpansion valve 300 through the first refrigerant pipe P1. Then, thehigh pressure refrigerant flows toward the first outlet port 302 throughthe first refrigerant passage of the expansion valve 300. Further, thehigh pressure refrigerant flows into the high pressure refrigerant inlet202 of the internal heat exchanger 200 directly from the first outletport 302.

In the internal heat exchanger 200, the high pressure refrigerantexchanges heat with the low pressure refrigerant that flows through thelow pressure refrigerant passages 200 b while flowing through the highpressure refrigerant passage 200 a. Then, the high pressure refrigerantis introduced into the second inlet port 303 directly from the highpressure refrigerant outlet 203 of the internal heat exchanger 200.

In the expansion valve 300, the high pressure refrigerant isdecompressed by the valve part (not shown) in the second refrigerantpassage. Then, the low pressure refrigerant is introduced into theevaporator 400 from the second outlet port 304 through the fourthrefrigerant pipe P4.

Thereafter, the low pressure refrigerant flows through the evaporator400 and then flows into the accumulator 500 through the fifthrefrigerant pipe P5, in the similar manner as the first embodiment.Then, the low pressure refrigerant discharged from the accumulator 500is introduced to the low pressure refrigerant inlet 204 of the internalheat exchanger 200 through the sixth refrigerant pipe P6. While flowingthrough the low pressure refrigerant passages 200 b of the heatexchanging part 201, the low pressure refrigerant exchanges heat withthe high pressure refrigerant. Then, the low pressure refrigerant isdischarged from the low pressure refrigerant outlet 205 and sucked intothe compressor 10 through the second refrigerant hose H2.

Next, effects of the second embodiment will be described.

The internal heat exchanger 200 and the expansion valve 300 haverelatively large numbers of coupling portions. The internal heatexchanger 200 and the expansion valve 300 are integrated into theassembly A2 before fixed to the vehicle body. The integrated internalheat exchanger 200 and expansion valve 300 are mounted together to thevehicle body by fixing one of the internal heat exchanger 200 and theexpansion valve 300 to the vehicle body.

Here, the internal heat exchanger 200 and the expansion valve 300 areintegrated by various ways or means. For example, the internal heatexchanger 200 and the expansion valve 300 may be integrally provided bysharing a housing thereof. Alternatively, the internal heat exchanger200 and the expansion valve 300 are connected such as by welding orusing fixing members such as clamps and screws.

As such, pipes for connecting the expansion valve 300 and the internalheat exchanger 200 are eliminated. Thus, coupling structure between theexpansion valve 300 and the internal heat exchanger 200 is simplified.Also, since the number of pipes in the refrigerating cycle is reduced,the refrigerating cycle is easily assembled within the enginecompartment.

Since the internal heat exchanger 200 and the expansion valve 300 areintegrated and arranged compact, the components of the refrigeratingcycle are mounted in a reduced space. Further, the internal heatexchanger 200 and the expansion valve 300 are easily assembled. Inaddition, the integrated internal heat exchanger 200 and expansion valve300 are handled as a single unit, and hence are easily transported andhandled in assembling.

In the refrigerating cycle, the internal heat exchanger 200 is disposeddownstream of the gas cooler 100, and the expansion valve 300 isdisposed downstream of the internal heat exchanger 200 with respect tothe flow of the high pressure refrigerant. To control the pressure ofthe high pressure refrigerant in the expansion valve 300, thetemperature of the high pressure refrigerant is sensed at a positiondownstream of the gas cooler 100. Since the internal heat exchanger 200is configured such that the high pressure refrigerant inlet 202 and thehigh pressure refrigerant outlet 203 are arranged adjacent to eachother, the pressure control in the expansion valve 300 is easilyperformed.

Since the box-type expansion valve 300 is employed, the first outletport 302 and the second inlet port 303 of the expansion valve 300 aredirectly connected to the high pressure refrigerant inlet 202 and thehigh pressure refrigerant outlet 203 of the internal heat exchanger 200,respectively. Here, the structure of the internal heat exchanger 200 isnot limited to the U-shape as long as the high pressure refrigerantinlet 202 and the high pressure refrigerant outlet 203 are disposedadjacent to each other.

Alternatively, when the high pressure refrigerant inlet 202 and the highpressure refrigerant outlet 203 are disposed at separated positions, apipe is coupled to one of the high pressure refrigerant inlet 202 andthe high pressure refrigerant outlet 203 and an end of the pipe isarranged to be close to the other one of the high pressure refrigerantinlet 202 and the high pressure refrigerant outlet 203.

The heat exchanging part 201 of the internal heat exchanger 200 has thedouble-passage pipe structure in which the high pressure refrigerantpassage 200 a and the low pressure refrigerant passages 200 b arecoaxially aligned. The heat exchanging part 201 is formed by bending.Therefore, the high pressure refrigerant inlet 202 and the high pressurerefrigerant outlet 203 are easily disposed adjacent to each other bybending the heat exchanging part 201 into the U-shape. Alternatively,the shape of the internal heat exchanger 200 may be arranged accordingto the space provided in the engine compartment. Thus, the assembly A2can be provided compact.

Third Embodiment

A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. Asshown in FIG. 6, the internal heat exchanger 200, the expansion valve300 and the accumulator 500 are integrated as into a component assemblyA3 in the refrigerating cycle. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, theexpansion valve 300 is disposed such that the first outlet port 302 isdirectly connected to the high pressure refrigerant inlet 202 of theinternal heat exchanger 200 and the second inlet port 303 is directlyconnected to the high pressure refrigerant outlet 203 of the internalheat exchanger 200.

Also, the refrigerant outlet 502 of the accumulator 500 is directlyconnected to the low pressure refrigerant inlet 204 of the internal heatexchanger 200. The internal heat exchanger 200, the expansion valve 300and the accumulator 500 are integrated into the assembly A3 before fixedto the vehicle body. The assembly A3 is mounted to and fixed to apredetermined position in the engine compartment with the bracket BKT.

The high pressure refrigerant discharged from the gas cooler 100 isintroduced to the first inlet port 301 of the expansion valve 300through the first refrigerant pipe P1. In the expansion valve 300, thehigh pressure refrigerant flows through the first refrigerant passageand reaches the first outlet port 302. Then, the high pressurerefrigerant directly flows in the high pressure refrigerant inlet 202 ofthe internal heat exchanger 200 from the first outlet port 302 of theexpansion valve 300.

In the internal heat exchanger 200, the high pressure refrigerantexchanges heat with the low pressure refrigerant flowing through the lowpressure refrigerant passages 200 b while passing through the highpressure refrigerant passage 200 a. Then, the high pressure refrigerantdirectly flows in the second inlet port 303 of the expansion valve 300from the high pressure refrigerant outlet 203 of the internal heatexchanger 200.

In the expansion valve 300, the refrigerant is decompressed by the valvepart (not shown) while flowing through the second refrigerant passage.The decompressed refrigerant is introduced to the evaporator 400 fromthe second outlet port 304 through the fourth refrigerant pipe P4.

After passing through the evaporator 400, the low pressure refrigerantflows through the fifth refrigerant pipe P5 and is introduced into therefrigerant inlet 501 of the accumulator 500. Then, the gas-phaserefrigerant and the refrigerating oil, which have been separated in theaccumulator 500, are introduced into the low pressure refrigerant inlet204 of the internal heat exchanger 200 directly from the refrigerantoutlet 502 of the accumulator 500.

In the internal heat exchanger 200, the low pressure refrigerantexchanges heat with the high pressure refrigerant flowing through thehigh pressure refrigerant passage 200 a while flowing through the lowpressure refrigerant passages 200 b. Thereafter, the low pressurerefrigerant is discharged from the low pressure refrigerant outlet 205of the internal heat exchanger 200 and sucked into the compressor 10through the second refrigerant hose H2.

The heat exchanging part 201 of the internal heat exchanger 200 forexample has the double-passage pipe structure having an inner pipeproviding the high pressure refrigerant passage 200 a and an outer pipehousing the inner pipe and providing the low pressure refrigerantpassages 200 b between the outer pipe and the inner pipe. The internalheat exchanger 200 has coupling portions at the ends thereof as the highpressure refrigerant inlet and outlet 202, 203, and the couplingportions are arranged at predetermined positions to corresponds to thefirst outlet port 302 and the second inlet port 303 of the expansionvalve 300. The coupling portions between the expansion valve 300 and theinternal heat exchanger 200 are configured similar to those of thesecond embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

The heat exchanging part 201 of the internal heat exchanger 200 has agenerally U-shape. The heat exchanging part 201 extends along the sidewail and the bottom wall of the columnar body of the accumulator 500toward a radially opposite side. Also, the heat exchanging part 201 isspaced from outer surfaces of the columnar body of the accumulator 500.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the heat exchanging part 201 includesstraight portions extending along the side wall of the columnar body ofthe accumulator 500 on one side, portions extending along the bottomwall of the columnar body toward the other side of the columnar body,portions extending along the side wall of the columnar body on theopposite side and a turn portion that makes a turn along the side wallof the columnar body on the opposite side.

The bracket BKT holds the columnar body of the accumulator 500 in thesimilar manner as the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2. The internalheat exchanger 200 is supported by the accumulator 500 through theexpansion valve 300 and the coupling portions between the internal heatexchanger 200, the expansion valve 300 and the accumulator 500.

Alternatively, the heat exchanging part 201 of the internal heatexchanger may be directly fixed by the bracket BKT. As another example,the internal heat exchanger 200 may be fixed to the accumulator 500 oranother object by using auxiliary bracket. In this embodiment, thecoupling portions associated with the assembly A3 are arranged at theupper portion of the accumulator 500 in the concentrated manner.

Next, effects of the third embodiment will be described.

The accumulator 500 is a relatively large component of the components ofthe refrigerating cycle. The expansion valve 300 and the internal heatexchanger 200 are integrated with the accumulator 500 into the assemblyA3 before fixing to the vehicle body, and then the accumulator 500 isfixed to the vehicle body. Thus, the associated components are mountedto and fixed to the vehicle body by fixing the accumulator 500 to thevehicle body.

Here, the internal heat exchanger 200, the expansion valve 300 and theaccumulator 500 are integrated in variable ways or by variable means.For example, the internal heat exchanger 200 and the expansion valve 300are integrated with the accumulator 500 such that portions such ashousings of the internal heat exchanger 200 and the expansion valve 300are provided by portions of the housing of the accumulator 500. That is,the internal heat exchanger 200, the expansion valve 300 and theaccumulator 500 may be constructed to shape a housing thereof.Alternatively, the internal heat exchanger 200, the expansion valve 300and the accumulator 500 may be connected such as by welding or by usingclamps or screws.

As such, the pipes for connecting between the internal heat exchanger200, the expansion valve 300, and the accumulator 500 are reduced, andhence the structures thereof are simplified. As a result, therefrigerant cycle is easily assembled in the engine compartment.

Further, the internal heat exchanger 200, the expansion valve 300 andthe accumulator 500 are integrated into the assembly A3, i.e., into asingle unit. Therefore, the internal heat exchanger 200, the expansionvalve 300 and the accumulator 500 are constructed compact and mounted ina reduced space. In addition, since the internal heat exchanger 200 andthe expansion valve 300 are easily assembled. Furthermore, the internalheat exchanger 200, the expansion valve 300 and the accumulator 500 arehandled as the single unit, and hence are easily transported and handledin assembling.

In the above embodiments, the refrigerating cycle is employed as asupercritical refrigerating cycle in which carbon dioxide is used as therefrigerant. However, the present invention is not limited to the abovediscussed and illustrated embodiments, but may be employed to asubcritical vapor compression refrigerating cycle in which the pressureof the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is lower than thecritical pressure and chlorofluorocarbon is used as the refrigerant.Further, one of or some of the refrigerant pipes P1 through P6 and therefrigerant hose H2 may be further integrally provided.

In the above embodiments, the bracket BKT is exemplary fixed to thevehicle body such as frame. However, the bracket BKT may be fixed toanother object such as a chassis of an air conditioner.

The example embodiments of the present invention are described above.However, the present invention is not limited to the above exampleembodiment, but may be implemented in other ways without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

1. A component assembly for a refrigerating cycle, comprising: adecompressing device for decompressing a high pressure refrigerantflowing through the refrigerating cycle into a low pressure refrigerant;and a gas-liquid separator for separating the low pressure refrigerantinto a liquid-phase refrigerant and a gas-phase refrigerant andaccumulating surplus refrigerant therein, wherein the decompressingdevice and the gas-liquid separator are integrated.
 2. The componentassembly according to claim 1, wherein the decompressing device includesa box-type expansion valve that defines a first refrigerant passagetherein and has a temperature sensing part disposed in communicationwith the first refrigerant passage for sensing a temperature of the highpressure refrigerant flowing in the first refrigerant passage.
 3. Thecomponent assembly according to claim 2, wherein the gas-liquidseparator has a tank body, and the decompressing device has arefrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet that are in communicationwith the first refrigerant passage, and the decompressing device isdisposed at an end of the tank body such that the refrigerant inlet andthe refrigerant outlet are open in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the tank body.
 4. Thecomponent assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a supportmember that supports at least one of the decompressing device and thegas-liquid separator.
 5. The component assembly according to claim 4,wherein the support member includes a fixing wall to be fixed to anobject and a support wall that holds at least one of the decompressingdevice and the gas-liquid separator.
 6. The component assembly accordingto claim 1, wherein the decompressing device and the gas-liquidseparator are integrated before being fixed to a part of a vehicle.
 7. Arefrigerating cycle comprising the component assembly according toclaim
 1. 8. A component assembly for a refrigerating cycle, comprising:a decompressing device for decompressing a high pressure refrigerantflowing through the refrigerating cycle into a low pressure refrigerant;and an internal heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between thehigh pressure refrigerant and the low pressure refrigerant, wherein thedecompressing device and the internal heat exchanger are integrated. 9.The component assembly according to claim 8, further comprising: agas-liquid separator for separating the low pressure refrigerant into aliquid-phase refrigerant and a gas-phase refrigerant and accumulatingsurplus refrigerant therein, wherein the gas-liquid separator isintegrated with the decompressing device and the internal heatexchanger.
 10. The component assembly according to claim 9, wherein thegas-liquid separator has a refrigerant outlet for discharging thegas-phase refrigerant, the internal heat exchanger has a low pressurerefrigerant inlet and a low pressure refrigerant passage that is incommunication with the low pressure refrigerant inlet for allowing thelow pressure refrigerant to flow, and the refrigerant outlet of thegas-liquid separator and the low pressure refrigerant inlet of theinternal heat exchanger are directly connected.
 11. The componentassembly according to claim 8, wherein the internal heat exchanger has ahigh pressure refrigerant passage for allowing the high pressurerefrigerant to flow, and a high pressure refrigerant inlet and a highpressure refrigerant outlet that are in communication with the highpressure refrigerant passage, and the high pressure refrigerant inletand the high pressure refrigerant outlet of the internal heat exchangerare disposed adjacent to each other.
 12. The component assemblyaccording to claim 11, wherein the decompressing device has a firstrefrigerant passage, a temperature sensing part disposed incommunication the first refrigerant passage for sensing a temperature ofthe high pressure refrigerant flowing through the first refrigerantpassage, a second refrigerant passage, and an expansion valve partdisposed in communication with the second refrigerant passage fordecompressing the high pressure refrigerant flowing through the secondrefrigerant passage, the decompressing device defines a first outlet atan end of the first refrigerant passage for discharging the highpressure refrigerant and a second inlet at an end of the secondrefrigerant passage for introducing the high pressure refrigerant intothe second refrigerant passage, and the first outlet of thedecompressing device is directly connected to the high pressurerefrigerant inlet of the internal heat exchanger and the second inlet ofthe decompressing device is directly connected to the high pressurerefrigerant outlet of the internal heat exchanger.
 13. The componentassembly according to claim 8, wherein the internal heat exchanger has aheat exchanging part for performing the heat exchange, and the heatexchanging part has a double passage pipe structure in which a highpressure refrigerant passage for allowing the high pressure refrigerantto flow and a low pressure refrigerant passage for allowing the lowpressure refrigerant to flow are coaxially disposed.
 14. The componentassembly according to claim 8, wherein the decompressing device includesa box-type expansion valve that defines a first refrigerant passagetherein and a temperature sensing part disposed in communication withthe first refrigerant passage for sensing a temperature of the highpressure refrigerant flowing through the first refrigerant passage. 15.The component assembly according to claim 14, wherein the gas-liquidseparator has a tank body, and the decompressing device has arefrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet that are in communicationwith the first refrigerant passage, and the decompressing device isdisposed at an end of the tank body such that the refrigerant inlet andthe refrigerant outlet are open in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the tank body.
 16. Thecomponent assembly according to claim 9, further comprising a supportmember that supports at least one of the decompressing device, theinternal heat exchanger and the gas-liquid separator.
 17. The componentassembly according to claim 15, wherein the support member includes afixing wall to be fixed to an object and a support wall that holds atleast one of the decompressing device, the internal heat exchanger andthe gas-liquid separator.
 18. The component assembly according to claim8, wherein the decompressing device and the internal heat exchanger areintegrated before being fixed to a part of a vehicle.
 19. Arefrigerating cycle comprising the component assembly according to claim8.